Sanderson fenderwell headers have been ceramic coated and collector inserts muffle the noise, but just barely. We first encountered the Sargis gasser on the fairgrounds in Louisville, and as it approached from behind it was the exhaust note of a cammed-up, high-compression motor that alerted us a serious car was approaching. A Borg-Warner four-speed is coupled via a Hays clutch, while shifting chores could only be handled by Hurst.
With the chassis complete, work turned to the body. While the body was amazingly solid for a New England car, those quarter-panels that Denny paid $125 to have cut and flared were in need of replacement, along with new doorskins and rocker panels. All the original floors were in excellent condition and required no rust repair. Bob located original front sheetmetal to replace the one-piece lift-off fiberglass front end on the car. From there the body was prepped for flat black paint and maybe some lettering on the door. The body was just about ready for that hot rod black finish when it occurred to Bob that he’d really like to paint the car gloss black; and oh by the way, let’s chrome plate most of the suspension; and since it’s only June surely we could get this done in time for the NSRA Street Rod Nationals. Ah yes, the thrash was on.
While the exterior was being blocked for black, Bob was busy inside wiring the car. The Stewart-Warner gauges in the stock dash remain along with the vintage Moroso tach mounted atop the dash. The ’69 Oldsmobile 442 bucket seats were reupholstered in black vinyl and vintage loop carpet now covers the floor and a stock-style headliner sits above the chrome rollbar. All of the inner panels were replaced with brushed aluminum and a Grant three-spoke steering wheel completes the look. Rather than run Lexan windows, the stock safety glass was tinted red. John Cicel, Larry Sneed, and Randy Riall all had a part in completing the interior in record time.
Now anyone who has ever done bodywork knows there is a big difference between prepping for flat black and gloss black, and yes turn-around time at Advance Plating was strained to get it all done, but by golly by Wednesday night before the Nats the car was finished and ready to rumble to the Nats. If the gasser was ever to be lettered it would have to have Sargis & Riall on the door, because as a team they continue to turn out winning combinations.
All the proper elements are...
All the proper elements are in place, from the aluminum gas pedal to the traditional three-spoke steering wheel and dash-mounted tach. The S&W gauges were originally installed in 1971.
Before the famous Hurst T-handle...
Before the famous Hurst T-handle there was the simple white shift knob.
An aluminum Moon fire extinguisher...
An aluminum Moon fire extinguisher resides between the buckets seats and behind the basic Hurst shifter boot.
A chrome oil pan and Wilwood...
A chrome oil pan and Wilwood brakes accompany the leaf springs, shocks, and straight tube axle, all from Speedway Motors. The chrome plating comes by way of Advance Plating. A 3-1/2-gallon Moon tank resides where a grille was once found.
An aluminum fuel cell rests...
An aluminum fuel cell rests on genuine Chevrolet floors. The inner wheelhouses have been widened several inches, the spare tire well is filled, and spatter paint provides the period-perfect finish.
Before the famous Hurst T-handle...
Before the famous Hurst T-handle there was the simple white shift knob.